OFFSTAGE: Can Kellie Pickler Juggle Broadway and Country?

(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that’s happening with country music artists behind the scenes and
out of the spotlight.)

The only way Kellie Pickler would take her newfound
dance skills to Broadway is if she could still perform country music. “I didn’t grow up wanting to be a dancer,” Pickler told
CMT Radio. “I grew up wanting to do what Dolly Parton does and what Loretta
Lynn does. My No. 1 passion and goal in life was to do what I’m doing now — be part of the country music family, live
in Nashville, tour and write songs.” Still, Pickler’s Dancing With the Stars partner Derek Hough is encouraging her
to think about a new kind of stage. “I’ve never thought about doing Broadway,” she said, “but Derek is very adamant on telling
me, ‘You need to do Broadway.'”

If she does end up on Broadway, at least she’s already cool with wearing a wig. Pickler
wore one this week during her fox trot and told CMT Radio the army of people working behind the scenes chose that for her,
and she’s totally OK with that. “Derek kind of paints out the picture of the vision that he has,” she said. “And I just kind
of embrace the whole thing.” Her mantra? Dive in head first and embrace the whole culture of it.

Next week’s show
will be all about the quick step, which Pickler has never done.

“I guess we’re gonna be quickly stepping across the
dance floor,” she joked.